Pakistan received a major boost ahead of the crucial second Test against Bangladesh after head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed confirmed that star batter Babar Azam is fully available for selection.
The second Test between Pakistan national cricket team and Bangladesh national cricket team begins in Sylhet on Friday, with Pakistan under immense pressure after suffering a disappointing defeat in the opening match of the two-Test series.
Speaking during a press conference in Sylhet, Sarfaraz backed Babar strongly and praised his recent performances in the Pakistan Super League, saying the former captain looked technically solid and mentally refreshed.
“Babar is looking confident and fresh mentally. The way he performed in the PSL showed his class and strong technique,” Sarfaraz said. “We are happy to have him with the squad for such an important game.”
Pakistan enter the second Test trailing 1-0 in the series and facing criticism following both their defeat and the ICC’s slow over-rate penalty in the first Test. However, Sarfaraz insisted the team remains focused on bouncing back rather than reacting to outside pressure.
“When a team doesn’t perform well, criticism is natural,” he said. “Former players and social media comments do not distract us. Our full focus is on the next match.”
The head coach also expressed confidence in wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, hoping he would deliver strongly with both the bat and gloves in the must-win encounter.
Sarfaraz revealed that the team management has already discussed the likely playing XI, although weather conditions in Sylhet could still force late changes.
“Rain is a concern, so we may need to adjust the combination depending on conditions,” he explained.
With the series on the line, Pakistan will now rely heavily on experienced stars like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to keep their hopes alive and avoid another major setback in Bangladesh.
